Photo By Paul Long | Vonnita Murray, a Work and Family Life Consultant at the Fleet and Family Service...... read more read more
YOKOSUKA, Japan - Sailors and their families can face frequent deployments, overseas duty assignments, unusual, and unexpected financial situations during their naval careers.
The Fleet and Family Service Center (FFSC) onboard Fleet Activities, Yokosuka holds a quarterly, two day, money management seminar called “Million Dollar Sailor” which is designed to equip Sailors and their families with latest money management tools so that they can make the best financial decisions for themselves. The latest class was held Oct 23-24.
According to Vonnita Murray, a FFSC Work and Family Life Consultant, there are several resources available to sailors and their family members to help them make better financial decisions.
“We want to put that information out there to let them know that there is a starting point,” said Murray. “We want to educate them with the resources that are available to them.”
According to Catrina “Cat” Whatley, a FFSC volunteer, there were 11 topics covered during the course.
“We tried to touch on all the major topics,” Whatley said. “We discussed military pay and understanding how your LES (leave and earnings statement) works, and that you can become a millionaire on military pay. We talked about credit management, debt management, banking, finances, car buying, home buying, wealth building, and insurance.”
Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Abigail Rader, assigned to the Navy Public Affairs Support Element Detachment Japan, took the class to help her learn how to better manage her finances. Rader has been in the Navy just over a year.
“I’m really glad I took the class,” said Rader. “I kind of wanted to get financial help because I don’t manage my money as well as I should. The class put into perspective how poorly I’ve been managing my money now and how I can better manage it starting right now.”
Ens. Yoel Mejia, assigned to the USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and his wife, Chief Yeoman Classie Mejia, assigned to Commander, Naval Forces Japan, were the only married couple who attended this class.
Chief Mejia said she took the class so that she could establish financial freedom.
“I know more about investments, and how to purchase a house,” Chief Mejia said. “We plan on living within our means and saving more now that when we retire, we won’t have to do anything. We’ll work because we want to, not because we have to.”
Whatley encourages people to pay more attention to their money.
“Too many people have a tendency to set up it (your investments) and forget it,” said Whatley. “With your money, you need to follow it. You want to keep it focused so that your money works hard for you rather than you working hard for it. It’ll pay off in the end because you won’t have as much debt, you won’t get into disciplinary action with the military, or in the civilian world because of credit or debt issues. It’ll help you be prepared for emergencies.
The next class will be held at the FFSC on Dec. 9 and 10 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. To register for this class or for more information call 243-3372.
| Date Taken: | 10.23.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 11.01.2013 03:17 |
| Story ID: | 116110 |
| Location: | YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 314 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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